DES MOINES, IOWA – Total jobless benefits paid to Iowans in May decreased by $5.1 million from April, according to Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) analysts.

Benefits totaling $19.9 million were paid to 29,307 claimants compared to $25.0 million paid to 34,223 jobless Iowans in April. A decline in construction and manufacturing claims accounted for most of the decrease.

May 2004 benefit payments were $6.6 million below the May 2003 total of $26.5 million for 35,962 unemployed workers. The decrease occurred mainly in construction and manufacturing claims.